Dear Editor,

I am a Tongan now living in Australia but originally from Vava'u. After 23 years I returned to Vava'u with my wife on a cruise ship and was totally dismayed with what I saw.

A toilet block down at the marina has been turned into a bar and (the toilet) was not open and available to some 1400 passengers on that ship. As a Tongan in my home town I have never felt more ashamed.

Where in the world, that wants to be taken as a serious tourist destination does this happen ?

On further investigation I found that the building was funded along with the marina by the EU; is this how Tonga repays them, by making a mockery of the help they have given?

Is it still the case that selfish individuals are above the law to the detriment of others?

I'm no policeman but it would be quite clear that this "bar" cannot meet licensing requirements and certainly not public health requirements.

I spoke to many who said that the bar disrupted the peace and quiet into the early hours every Wednesday to Saturday, blasting out music that could be heard miles away. I'm sure it was not the intention the good people at the EU to bring misery to life in Vava'u.

I read about reform in Tonga and then I see this, is it abuse, corruption, greed or selfishness? It shows there is going to be little progress when authorities turn a blind eye.

This is a call out to those with responsibility, show that you are capable of making the right decisions, get rid of this embarrassing toilet bar.

Yours sincerely

vavautonga [at] hotmail [dot] com (Sione Tupou )